A City With A Tale: 17 Things To Do In Canterbury

Canterbury has been a place of pilgrimage since the 12th century, and its world-famous cathedral within a UNESCO World Heritage Site still draws in the crowds more than 800 years on.

You might know it as the site of Thomas Becket’s martyrdom and Geoffrey Chaucer’s classic book the Canterbury Tales, which is about pilgrims visiting Becket’s shrine. The city of Canterbury was also one of the five designated ‘Magna Carta Towns’ in England.

With Roman and Norman ruins, and streets lined with pretty timber-framed 16th and 17th century houses, this is a city steeped in history. What’s more, with a new high speed service running from Kings Cross St Pancras, it’s only an hour’s train ride away from London.

So whether you are down for the day, or for a long weekend – here’s where you can visit, eat and busy yourself while you’re there.

1. Start with Canterbury’s World Heritage Site

In 1988 Unesco designated Canterbury as a World Heritage Site, which is made up of Canterbury Christchurch Cathedral and Precinct,St Augustine’s Abbey and St Martin’s Church.

We’ll come to the cathedral, but St Martin’s Church should not be missed – this is the oldest church still used as a place of worship in the English-speaking world. In the churchyard you’ll see the gravestone of Mary Tourtel, the creator of Rupert Bear.

Some of its architectural importance relates to the large nave, the first Anglo Saxon structure made of mortared brick and stone instead of wood, and it has a fine Caen-stone Norman font.

You should also take a stroll around the ruins of St Augustine’s Abbey, built to bury the Anglo-Saxon Kings of Kent in 597.

2. Take a closer look at Canterbury Cathedral

Canterbury Cathedral is one of the most famous places of worship in the world, and it remains the Mother Church of the global Anglican Community as well a seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

It took a grisly place in history when Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered inside the Cathedral in 1170 – hence its historic attraction to pilgrims.

Since its founder St Augustine’s time, the building has been rebuilt by the Saxons and then the Normans in 1070, and bits and pieces have been added and removed over the centuries.

You can still see some parts that date back to the 12th Century. And look out for the stained glass, they have one of the largest medieval collections on the world.

3. See some rhinos nearby

The first baby Black Rhino to be born at Howletts Wild Animal Park – pictured here with his mum

Just south east of the city, you can visit Howletts Wild Animal Park which has lions and tigers, including a pair of the rare Sumatran breed, among the animals.

The charity-run park also has a huge herd of African elephants, black rhino and a family of Western Lowland gorillas in their natural enclosures, designed to make the animals feel at home.

Check out the map of their 90 acre park to work out what you want to see on a trip there.

4. Watch the native wildlife

If you want to learn more about British animals, visit Wildwood Discovery Park, which has more than 200 animals, including owls, red squirrels, deer and badgers.

While wolves, bears, lynx, bison and beavers are among the animals hunted to extinction in this country, this conservation charity has examples of all these mammals at the park – but don’t be fooled if the wolves wag their tails – they’re trained hunters.

5. Discover more about one of the most famous books in literature

The author Geoffrey Chaucer and Canterbury are inextricably linked, thanks to his 14th Century masterpiece, The Canterbury Tales. – Telling the stories of people on a pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral, it’s written in the English language of the time.

The Canterbury Tales at St Margaret’s Church has costumed guides to take you on five of the pilgrim’s journeys from London to Canterbury. The featured tales include The Knights Tale, The Miller’s Tale and The Wife of Bath’s Tale, before you end up at the shrine of St Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral.

6. Explore even more literary links

Christopher Marlowe was born in Canterbury, and one of the most legendary rumours in literature is that he didn’t just contribute to some of his friend, William Shakespeare’s works – some say he wrote them.

An Elizabethan scholar, poet and spy, his most famous play is probably Doctor Faustus. He also wrote the only on-ship account of Francis Drake’s battle with the Spanish Armada.

While he came to an undignified end, stabbed to death in a tavern brawl in Deptford, this famous hellraiser and dramatist is honoured by The Marlowe Theatre, named after him.

You can go and watch plays, dance and comedy at this venue.

7. Delve deeper into the city’s history at a museum

Impression of what Canterbury would have been like in Roman times. (image: Visit Canterbury)

The Canterbury Roman Museum is built around the remains of a Roman town house. It had all the mod-cons, including a mosaic floor with under-floor heating, which were revealed after the shops above were blitzed in a German bombing raid.

Look out for the footprints of dogs and children left in the Roman floor tiles.

8. Visit Canterbury’s cartoon characters

Bagpuss lives in a display cabinet at Canterbury Heritage Museum – but don’t worry, he isn’t lonely; the mice, elephant and ballerina are also there for when it’s lights out.

Not to be outdone, Rupert the Bear also resides here. His creator, Mary Tourtel, was born and studied art in Canterbury.

You can also learn more about childhood classic characters the Clangers, the Pogles, Ivor the Engine and Noggin the Nog, whose TV appearances were made at the Smallfilms animations studios in a barn just outside the city.

9. See the sights from the water

The River Stour flows through the city and was the main source of commerce connecting the continent to Canterbury in Roman and Medieval times. Now it’s a much more tranquil place.

You can walk or cycle along the Great Stour Way, part of the National Cycle Network Route, and the journey taking you from Chartham to Canterbury is three miles long.

10. Sample Canterbury’s cuisine

The city has fine dining options along with gastro pubs to keep you fed and watered.

Deeson’s British Restaurant grows a lot of its food in a smallholding on the outskirts of the city – called The Bunker. Not only does the five-acre site provide a lot of the fruit and veg, but they also have livestock, poultry and bee hives producing honey – find them near the cathedral.

Abode has three different places to suit every palate: The County Restaurant does Modern European food, The Champagne Bar for fizz and a something light, and their pub, The Old Brewery Tavern, gives you the gastro experience.

11. Try a local pub

The Lady Luck has built a reputation as a great live music pub, or choose your own sounds on their jukebox. Among the usuals, they serve real ale and specialist rums, and if the weather’s nice, the beer garden is always tempting.

For cocktails in an intriguing venue, try The Pound Bar & Kitchen and see if you can spot the original features of what was once a city gaol, gaoler’s house and police station – it stays open late.

At The Foundry Brew Pub – you can actually watch the beers being brewed while you wait. Housed in a former Victorian foundry (hence the name) they have plenty of cask beers, ales and ciders to try.

The Tyler’s Kiln is a gastro pub which also hosts live music nights, along with quizzes and other events.

It’s worth the four mile drive to Westbere to theYe Olde Yew Tree Inn, which claims to be the oldest pub in Kent (1348) and is quite possibly haunted. This is a proper countryside pub, with a large outdoor beer garden to sip your beer in.

Back in the centre of the city is another old pub, The Cricketers, which has a courtyard garden to escape the busy high street.

Finally the Artichoke Innis a timber-framed pub, dating back to the 15th century. It’s a great place to pop into during the colder months, as they have two large open fires.

12. Be bowled over by the sporting entertainment

The grounds of Kent County Cricket Club

The Spitfire Ground at St Lawrence in Canterbury is one of the home grounds, and headquarters, for Kent County Cricket Club.

The club was officially formed in 1842, but they played matches against London in the 18th century and neighbouring county Surrey in 1773.

You can go and watch a match during the season in the day or watch the action under floodlights for a T20 game.

13. Browse for bargains in Canterbury’s shops

Shopping in central Canterbury. Image via Visit Canterbury

The Buttermarket, next to the Cathedral, has been a part of Canterbury commerce for hundreds of years. They have sweet, gift and pottery shops, along with cafes and restaurants, where you can take a break from sightseeing (it’s actually built on top of some Roman ruins and underground tunnels).

14. Enjoy Canterbury’s parks and open spaces

The site of Westgate Parkswas once used as a place for Iron Age settlers to cross the river, and throughout the centuries this has been a prime spot in the city. Now its four riverside locations have been modernised and improved.

Westgate Gardens have been popular since the middle ages, and is one of England’s oldest parks, while the area known as Toddlers Cove is a lovely picnic spot with a children’s play area and outdoor gym recently added.

You can also meander through the meadow at Tannery Field (where Stone Age families once lived) or the wooded Bingley Island with its wildlife.

15. Explore more historic buildings

The ruinedCanterbury Castlewas originally built by William the Conqueror in c1070 , although Henry I made the biggest changes when he made it one of his three major fortifications in Kent in the 12th Century.

It formed part of the city walls, and you can climb partly up inside one of the towers to get an idea of its scale, or wander through the grounds.

The restored Stelling Minnis Windmill and Museum, is on the outskirts of town, and this pretty wooden smock mill, now Grade I listed, is open every Sunday from Easter through to September.

About Author

Kirsten is the chief blogger here at lastminute.com. A former newspaper journalist (don’t hold that against her), having taken extensive trips to China, America and Australasia, she is now pouring her passion for travel into writing blogs and features for the lastminute.com website. Arriving in London via exotic Scunthorpe, Kirsten has made it her mission to try out as many pubs and restaurants as she possibly can in the capital.

1 Comment

Brilliant guide, thank you. Canterbury Escape Room is an attraction that has just opened on the high street. Locked in a medieval jail based on the city’s Westgate in the 15th century, teams of 2-5 players have an hour to escape or be, well, executed! Perfect for bringing all that history to life. Booking is available online. http://canterburyescaperoom.com